Afghan Biographies

Khorasani, Abdul Qahir

Name

Khorasani, Abdul Qahir

Ethnic backgr.

Pashtun

Date of birth

Function/Grade

Afghan Salafist

History and Biodata

3. Biodata:Sheikh Abu Yazid Abd al-Qahir Khorasani Abdul Qahir Abu Yazid al-Khorasani Abdul Qahir Khurasani is a Islamist preacher and website proprietor from Kunar province. He is a salafist and known for his online sermons in praise of jihad and martyrdom. Khorasani is a more radical Salafi-jihadist scholar. He has also written a number of books, most of them reaffirming Salafi-jihadist interpretations of Sharia. His books, and his fatwas, which are available online, consider all Muslim states as murtad (apostate) and those working with them as legitimate targets who can be killed. Khorasani has written a booklet titled the Criterion on Virtues of Fighting Pakistan and his statements and books are published by his own jihadist media production agency, Abtal ul-Islam (Heroes of Islam). The agency has been active in the jihadist media sphere since at least 2012, issuing video, audio and text materials mostly in Pashto, but also in Arabic, Urdu and Dari. Many products, including the earliest productions, endorse the Pakistani Taleban’s fight against the state. He also shares a takfiri view of Shias as apostates (murtads) who can be ‘excommunicated’ and killed. With these characteristics, he may have the potential of galvanising some young Salafi jihadists inside Afghanistan.